Notices respecting tfew Books. SlS 



lime, the alarming and increasing scarcity of large oak tim- 

 ber for naval purposes. 



In the section on draining, several instances are men- 

 tioned of unsuccessful attempts at improving lands, by Mr. 

 Elkington, in Derbyshire, and in Bedfordshire, for the late 

 Duke of Bedford, while the author was his Grace's land 

 steward; from which it would appear, that far less of science 

 or success attended Mr. E.'s practice as a drainer, than the 

 public have been led to believe. The principles of draining 

 seem now, however, to be well understood ; the art is suc- 

 cessfully practised by great numbers of professiorwl drainers 

 all over the country, and scarcely any thing seems wanting 

 in point of theory, to Mr. John Johnston's able work -on 

 this subject, published by the Board. Some omissions and 

 misstatements in Mr. Batchelor's Bedfordshire Report re- 

 lating to this and some other branches of rural improve- 

 ments, in which the author was concerned, are noticed in 

 this volume. • ' 



The still mysterious operation of Zime, as a manure or 

 stimulant to land, may perhaps at some future period re- 

 ceive helps towards its elucidation, from the great pains 

 which the author has taken in this volume, to ascertaia 

 the stratum and quarry, from whence the lime was pro- 

 cured, in all the numerous instances <vhich are mentioned 

 of its use. 



In the chapter on irrigation, it seems pretty satisfactorily 

 made out, that the flatness of the watered surfaces, of 

 meadows in Derbyshire, Norfolk, Bedfordshire, and other 

 places, have principally occasioned the numerous failures 

 which have been complained of, in the practice of this art, 

 though charged by Mr. Batchelor, and many other writers, 

 to the account of soils and waters, either as to the inineral 

 qualities or alleged coldness of the latter : some extensive 

 schemes of irrigation in newly inclosed parishes m Bed- 

 fordshire, belonging to the late Duke of Bedford, are men- 

 tioned and shortly described. 



On the whole, we can recommend this volume to the 

 careful perusal of our agricultural readers, as containing 

 much practical and valuable information, applicable greatly 

 beyond the limits of the county whose n.ime '.i bears, and 

 in the arrangements of which mucli pains seem to have 

 been bestowed. Excellent indexes accompany this and the, 

 former volume. 



4 Mr. 



